Semishigure — Shuhei Fujisawa

Semishigure, the samurai novel which has captivated generations of Japanese readers, is finally available in English.

When his father is accused of rebellion and forced to commit seppuku, it falls to Maki Bunshirô to protect his family’s house from future retribution. Training as a samurai, Bunshirô must hone his skills with the sword and make powerful allies among the elders of the domain if he hopes to survive. As he is navigating clan politics, the object of this youthful affection, Fuku, becomes the mistress of the lord of the domain. When Fuku and her child become the key to the future of the domain, Bunshirô is forced to choose between what his lord commands and his childhood love.

Semishigure, literally meaning “cicada showers,” refers to the everpresent noise of insects chirping in Japanese summers, a nostalgic reminder of the passing seasons. This much-loved, sentimental samurai novel by Fujisawa Shuhei, the undisputed master of the genre, is finally available in English, and Thomas Harper’s deft translation brings all of the power, longing, and joy of the original that has captivated generations of Japanese readers.